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Miscellaneous Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Others in 1883
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Miscellaneous Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Others in 1883
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019. José M. Cecilio, Manila, 8 February 1882 News from the Tomasina House – Leonor is suffering – Comments on Manila lads and lasses – Filipinos in Spain excel in literature, according to Rizal. 020. Tomás Cabangis, Barcelona, 8 February 1883 News from Barcelona – He would like to finish the medical course and study other things at Madrid. 021. José M. Cecillio, Manila, 29 May 1883 Rizal’s love affairs – Pi y Margall – News of young men and women of Manila Society – Wedding of Anacleto del Rosario – Examinations for aspirants. 022. Rosauro de Guzman, Manila, 29 July 1883 José M. Cecilio (Chengoy) is promoted – begs Rizal to be his future compadre. 023. José M. Cecilio, Manila, 15 September 1883 Paris is the grand city, according to Zamora – Rizal now speaks French – News of Manila lasses – Leonor again – Inquiring about Rizal’s literary activities. –—
019. José M. Cecilio, Manila, 8 February 1882
News from the Tomasina House – Leonor is suffering – Comments on Manila lads and lasses – Filipinos in Spain excel in literature, according to Rizal.
Manila, 8 February 1883
Mr. José Rizal y Mercado
My distinguished Namesake and esteemed Friend, I received your esteemed letter of 2 December last in which you devoted affectionate phrases to me. Gratefully I now reply that, due perhaps to the benevolent partiality with which you judge my poor writings, you had the courage to show my letter to those who, following customary prejudices, believe that the majority of us here do not know how to speak Spanish even halfway. In my poor judgment, none of the letters I have written you, considering the haste with which they had been written, deserves to be read before those people. However, as fellow countryman, comrade, and friend it will always be for me a great pleasure if with my letter you have been able to undeceive them and they would have a favorable opinion of the sons of this land. I write this at our house where I live with my parents who returned from Batangas weeks ago. It is on Mendoza Street, San Sebastian, one of the five apartments with galvanized iron roofing belonging to Mr. Juan Balbas which are still without numbers. I tell you that I left the Tomasina House [01] with regret, having lived there three long years without any vacation whatsoever. For that reason I hope you will always address to that house the letters that you write me. The only boarders remaining there are the Apacible brothers, one nephew of theirs whom you did not meet here because he came just this school year, and Espina who is as tall as his father. Your fellow townsmen live at the house of P. Villaseñor. It is a pity now to see the Tomasina House which formerly was the center of enthusiastic young people. The things that are lacking in our letters cannot go by mail. They need an ex profeso bearer. [Latin = They need someone to intentionally bring these concerns to you. - rly] Last night I was at the Tomasina House visiting the folks I left there and the woman who suffers so much for you. I found her slightly improved in health but this girl is like that, one day well, another day ill. According to what I was told one day by friend Vicente, who remains in the number of those who try to monopolize, this unfortunate person, on account of her love for you, no longer wants to be told about you, because she believes that you have abandoned her completely in view of the fact that you do not write her at all, and as I always talk about the absentee, she calls me temptation. I told her that man ought to live on hopes and especially those days that pass away in a frightful manner, why should anyone despair, there being a remedy and hope in excess in this world? I cannot believe that you are abandoning her; therefore, you ought to remedy the unfortunate situation of that girl. I have learned from some of Lingayen that in that place it is common knowledge that she is your true fiancée. I thank you must sincerely for the information you give me about the people there. I believe everything you say because I have met some of them here and I mingled with them. According to Lacson and others from Iloilo, friend V . . . . is not altogether useless for he is coming next school year to continue his studies. However, his engagement to M . . . . remains broken and according to what they say, she will join in wedlock Alferez C . . ., a Spanish-Filipino. Your Compadre Jorge and Feliciano Cabrera, on account of beriberi, made a trip to Eternity, but do not say anything about this to the landlady because she does not yet know it. Because of her nervousness and her great affection for her brother, it is better that she should not know it. I am very much pleased with your information that our countrymen there excel in literature. May they continue on that road because later they will win laurels in it. Tell Mr. Pi y Margall from whom I suppose came the letter I received three mails ago for Miss Teofila Jugo y Roxas that, on the night of the same day that it reached my hands, it was delivered to the addressee. They are very amiable . . . . (portion destroyed). The poor women had suffered heavily in the last typhoon of 20 October. It is not known definitely where Catalina Vasquez is, whether in some house of retreat or private house. According to her mother, she is at home, but according to Pololeng she is in a house of retreat and from there she will come out to marry an employee of the Intendencia, fellow countryman of her father whose family name is Lopez Biegbeder. Regards from Capitan Jose Valenzuela and Chengoy, his son-in-law, from whom I inquired about the sate of health of the rest of the family and found out that they were well. Regards likewise from my family and other friends and affectionate regards of Your very affectionate friend, Chengoy _______________ [01] The boarding house owned by Mr. Antonio Rivera located on Santo Tomás Street, hence Casa Tomasina. (Tomasine House)
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020. Tomás Cabangis, Barcelona, 8 February 1883
News from Barcelona – He would like to finish the medical course and study other things at Madrid.
Barcelona, 8 February 1883
Mr. José Rizal
My dear Friend and good Countryman, Not to have answered your letter in due time is not my fault, that is to say, it was not lack of will but the noise of the carnival that dismayed me and for that reason excuse my long silence. Your letter for the Misses C . . . is already in their hands. They are very glad, as they realize more and more that you are one of their true friends. It seems that Rosalia will soon go to that crown city. Who knows if she still entertains the hope of finding you as the only confident of her beautiful sentiments! I believe she is capable of looking you up. Poor girl! I am very sorry indeed to receive from you such unfavorable information about the professor of obstetrics there. Now I am in a terrible dilemma whether to go there or not. I am still in Barcelona awaiting the money that they will have to send me for my trip and should I receive that money within the month of March, I hope you will tell me fraternally and amicably what decision I ought to make, for you already know my intentions in going there. Besides this I want to finish my professional studies, as well as to study other things that I ought to know. Our former companions at the house of Doña Silvestra send you their regards. Pardon me if this letter is not long enough for I am still dealing with the fatigue of the local carnival. Farewell, my regards to some countrymen and you command your friend who loves you. Thomás P.S. As you are a friend of Valentin, I request you to deliver a letter to him.
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021. José M. Cecillio, Manila, 29 May 1883
Rizal’s love affairs – Pi y Margall – News of young men and women of Manila Society – Wedding of Anacleto del Rosario – Examinations for aspirants.
Manila, 29 May 1883
Mr. José Rizal
My dear Namesake, old Friend and Co-Babylonian, On 22nd instant I received your letter of the 11th of last monthy, not through the kindness of our excellent landlord, despite the fact that it was addressed to the Tomasina House, but directly from the post office where they erased the address and wrote that of the office in San Miguel. Villanueva and Carillo had been at the Tomasina House and gave very good information on your devotion to study. I have seen your portrait done by our countryman Resurreccion. I am exceedingly glad that, despite the numerous subjects that overwhelm you, you still have time to amuse yourself. I believe that the primitive inhabitants of ancient Babylonia, now forlornly deserted, wherever they go, a notable influence with regard to girls always accompanies them. If I am not mistaken, the two young ladies you have take to the dance with ther mother are the ones who are dying of love for your young person. It is well for the one who is here who suffers, because she does suffer, sick every week because she gets sick, she loves because her heart tells her to or compels her to. Difficult, as well as sad, is the situation of a being who aspires only for your love and nothing more! I am glad that at last you are convinced of this, for last night, or night before last, I related to her what you told me in your letter that I am answering and at the same time I asked permission to transmit to you the information that a European corporal of the Veteran Guard, who was stationed at the headquarters in front, has been in love with your flower and had reached the point of asking the consent of the landlord to come up to the house to declare to the young woman. But the landlady smelled it and immediately sent word to my poor man not to bother himself for the reason that the girl is not yet ready to receive suitors, much less to marry. So then, what pretty names entertain our countrymen: Pilar and Consuelo. What most novelistic names, but I do not know if their love is also novelistic. Do me the favor of telling Mr. Pi y Margall that I am always ready to serve him in everything that my scant merits can reach. I have known for a long time that gentleman by name and I have good information of him with regard to his opinion of us, because a chief attorney of the office, who died in this country, used to write him by every mail. He was called Mr. Juan Bautista Guardiola.
The Saya (Balintawak style) Catalina Vasquez lives wither husband . . . in San Marcelino or Paco. Pololeng remains. Those who have seen her say that she now wears saya. [‘01] M . . of Beaterio Street is becoming more and more winsome every day, for it seems to me she is satisfied with M . . . . Captain José and Chengoy, his son-in-law, return your compliments and appreciate your regards. Ay, my Namesake! Had you been here on Easter Sunday you would he seen this family attend it with all the finery obtainable in Manila and surely you will exclaim, “Ay, Orang, why do you kill me? I have no information whether J . . . . is already in the city, but I know that M . . . . according to what they relate is going to marry one Tagle, without doubt Perez, because all those who bear the surname Tagle in Manila are Perez de Tagle and almost all are Spaniards of this country. Don Leon and his son Mariano, father and brother respectively of the winsome Mentang, our friend, with Mr. Segundo Abella, in one week went to Eternity due to cholera. Poor family! Our friend Dr. Anacleto de Rosario was married to Miss Valeriana Valdezco a month or so ago. This friend has an elegant drugstore in Sta. Cruz. Of our four pharmacist friends only one, Mr. Mariano Ocampo, remains to be married. Arevalo and Enrique Perez are married to two sisters, Luisa and Juliana Flores of San Nicolas, respectively. Your Compadre Teong lost his son Peping victim of a kind of cholera two weeks ago. I cannot depict to you the grief that seizes your Comadre on account of so great a loss. I gave to this family your regards and gratefully they are returning them to you in the midst of their sorrow and they are glad that you are well. I am glad that friend Zamora is already in that capital and that he is going to Barcelona and afterwards to Paris and you too after that friend. I do not know if that physician has received the telegram or telegrams that his parents have sent him informing him of the death of a daughter of his and, later, of his mother-in-law, and the present sickness of his wife. It seems to me that Madrigal is treating her. Until now I do
not know if I shall get one of the positions of aspirants for officer,
created recently in the Administraciones Centrales de Hacienda. [02] I took
the examination, but, until now, I don’t know the grade I obtained. We were
83 candidates among employees, subordinates, students, surveyors, Spaniards
of the country and Spaniards not of the country. The examinations lasted
three days. On the first day the test consisted of practical exercises
consisting of abridging a letter, writing another, and solving a
mathematical problem. On the second day we faced questions on the theory of
grammar and the knowledge of legislation regarding administrative matters.
The positions are of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
class,
Less than two weeks ago the landlady told me that your brother had been at Tomasina House. I do not know if he wanted to take the pictures that you sent them or if he had left them for the family to take with them on the day of the fiesta of Calamba that I can already smell. Ay! What memory the year leaves us, what joy that our breasts cannot hold! I have changed my house. I now live in Quiapo, Escaldo Street, No. 15, entrance Concepcion Street, entresol. For us this already has acceptable conditions because the one we occupied in San Sebastian was very small and hot. My family, though it has not met you, sends you its regards and offers you its scant services like those of your very affectionate friend who wishes your welfare and happiness. José M. Cecilio _______________ [01] Saya here means the Filipino woman’s attire which girls put on when they become young ladies. Heretofore they wear short dresses in the European style. [02] Administrative Centers of Finance.
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022. Rosauro de Guzman, Manila, 29 July 1883
José M. Cecilio (Chengoy) is promoted – begs Rizal to be his future compadre.
Manila, 29 July 1883
Mr. José y Mercado
My very distinguished friend and future Compadre, Through the kindness of my never sufficiently esteemed compadre Pepe, I received the expression of your affection that from that adorned and aristocratic city you had the kindness to send to a poor dweller of the most gloomy and desolate corner of the world. How many times have I had the pleasant satisfaction of being complimented by this tender proof of your kindness which my unworthy smallness is far from deserving, so many times have I wished to transmit it to you the feeling of sincere gratitude that overflows from my heart, but I am to so unfortunate that hardly do I know that sweet language with which at this moment you are enriching your lips and I would prefer silence to the ear of appearing cold and indifferent in your eyes. However, the nobility of your soul is not unknown to me as neither to you the place that you occupy in my humble consideration. What have I to say to you in my humble consideration? What have I to say to you then? I do not know how to express myself. I beg you only to please overlook my stupid incapacity and deign to accept my muteness as the most eloquent testimony of what I could express under the ineffable impression that agitates me at this instant. Convinced of my innate dullness I would conclude this letter with the above if I did not trust in your indulgence of which you have given me proofs. Because of this I will permit myself to continue writing on other details that compel me to take advantage of this occasion. The friendship that binds me to my Compadre Pepe has several times afforded me very pleasant moments, hearing him relate some details that embellish the happiness that surrounds you, for it is happiness and it is too little, to be able to contemplate, not as a dream, the only medium that we enjoy here, but with the sense of the soul, in the same way that a lover, prostrate at the feet of his adored object, contemplates all that sublimity, infallible image of genius and learning which are the powerful lever that induces man to perform wonders that excite eternal admiration. That Heaven may continue to shower on you its graces is my most vehement desire and permit you to scale without any mishap that grand universal ladder that many climb and few reach its topmost step. Though I have no doubt that my Compadre Pepe will not omit a pleasant news in his letter to you, I give myself the pleasure of informing you that he was appointed First Class Aspirant for Official of Administration, one of the posts recently created by the Government of His Majesty [King Alfonso XII - rly] for the sons of this country. He deserves it fully and the Government has rewarded him worthily. I applaud it infinitely, telling you of my joy which I am sure you will receive with the same enthusiasm. I would leave a gap for which you would not forgive me if I should omit stating my reasons for greeting you at the beginning of this letter with the strange addition of “future.” Before your departure for abroad I had the boldness to request you to grant me the honorable title of “Compadre” for the confirmation of my two boys Eduardo and Honorato. I have not been able yet, despite my wishes, to realize the desired agreement for lack of opportunity due to various circumstances, that are very sad indeed, which had prevailed in this country since last year and which are undoubtedly known to you. But I trust you there shall be an opportunity for this purpose as soon as our venerable prelate, who is presently at Rome, returns to this city which will be, according to the news coming from that capital city, in the month of October or November next. I have already requested our dear friend Mr. Vicente Gella to represent you at that solemn act whose date I shall have the pleasure of announcing to you in advance. Though blushingly, I am obliged to unload to you my conscience, confessing to you that in the month of November of last year I was at the point of abusing your kindness in conspiracy with my Compadre Pepe, trusting in your natural complacency and without your previous acquiescence. I was going to ask you to be godfather to another offspring that my wife delivered in that month, but this offense remained an intention for unfortunately the boy was born sick and lived only seven days and was baptized in an emergency, Pepe, acting as sponsor. Despite this, once my plans are conceived, I am ready not to change them should Heaven favor me again, and I beg you to receive them with pleasure informing me in advance of your consent by which you will give one more proof of your exquisite amiability. I understand my insignificance, but I have the certainty that your good heart will not disdain to know something of your poor friend. Thus I will take the liberty of informing you that I am hale and hearty in the company of my family, despite the sad effects on health caused by that terrible disease from the Ganges which since last year has been ruling this unlucky country. Topping so much ill-luck was a series of horrible hurricanes that in the last forty years had never been known in these latitudes, according to old folks. I did not escape them, for in October my house was completely destroyed, as if a giant hand had seized it and had squeezed in it the same way as if it were made of a simple paper cone. You know the disposition of that construction and you will imagine the intensity of those phenomena and our agony in witnessing them. They say that God’s mercy is as great as His ire and it is true, for thanks to God’s mercy our house is not reconstructed where I am as before. I conclude this letter expressing to you my fervent wishes that at its receipt, you may be enjoying the inestimable benefit that Heaven has been bestowing on you. I beg you to kindly accept my humble but sincere regards joined to those of my wife, your future comadre. Your very affectionate friend, future compadre and servant who kisses your hand, Rosauro de Guzman
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023. José M. Cecilio, Manila, 15 September 1883
Paris is the grand city, according to Zamora – Rizal now speaks French – News of Manila lasses – Leonor again – Inquiring about Rizal’s literary activities.
Manila, 15 September 1883
Mr. José Rizal
My old Friend and dear Namesake, If I do not continually inquire about you at Tomsina House where I know they receive letters from you every mail, undoubtedly I would have been surprised by these words which you put at the head of the superscription of your letter of 20 July last that is in my possession which says, Iles Philippines. To have a friend in Paris and receive from him a letter has always been my constant desire. You are right that we lack topics to write upon. For your satisfaction I tell you that I have won a post of Aspirant for Official of Administration. Since 15 June last I have been occupying my new position in the Administration Central de Rentas y Propiedades [01] to which I belong but for the convenience of the service; I continue serving in my old Intendencia General. [02] May God will that it may not expire because, despite what has been written that the first distinctive character of these posts is absolute immovability, I am not so confident that I shall always live with this employment. You say that you would give me temptations to go there if I obtain one of these posts. Since before they were giving me, but what was lacking was money. Now you will say that I can easily carry out my wish, but I see that here it is the same to find P 10 as P 20. This is for the question of residue. Friend Zamora has been in the city since more than a week ago. He arrived on the same boat that brought your letter which I am answering. He is stout and I chatted with him for a couple of hours. For this man the grand country is Paris, whose language, according to him, you now master. This news makes me very glad and I hope one day I shall receive a book in French whose author is my Co-Babylonian. You already know that I unfortunately do not know that language, but I am going to read the book from the beginning to the end. He has told me of your new Spanish girl friends whom he invited to his farewell party at Madrid. Some of them are daughters of a colonel. He said that all of you danced very well to the music of the piano and the hand-organ. [A barrel organ played by turning a crank by hand - rly] I have learned about what had happened to you in that populous city through one of your letters addressed to your family which was quite long. It is lucky that you found a good exit in that dispute on Japanese characters. How women are! Until now Margarita, Pololeng, and Mamerta are not yet engaged, but the one who has married magnificently is Icang Ocampo of Biñang with the widower Mr. Mariano Buenaventura. No star shines in Orang’s house. I believe that since you left, and consequently the gang was dispersed, the sky of many houses has become dark. Captain Cordero is more faithful than a Swiss. He does not leave his T . . . . Your cousin, Leon, no longer lives at the Tomasina House but on Trinidad Street, Sta. Cruz, at the house of the late P. Porong, who was precentor [Choir Director - rly] of the Cathedral, with his brother, Lopez and companions. This cousin is no longer engaged in hunting and fishing as you formerly knew him but to national letters, because, as a budding lawyer, he wants to be a literary man like you. You are lucky to know there is a Pilar [03] that is not of stone and more consoling than Consuelo. Friend Gella is here; he lives in Sta. Cruz. [04] He rents it and he has pupils whom he teaches Latin in the name of I do not know which professor. The man has necessarily to live in this way because they are four brothers who are now in the capital – three men and one woman. This friend does not lie so happily as before with his J . . . . for the reason that he has met one in Calibo this last vacation. If you would know what jokes I make to the one who loves you so much in this country, you would die of laughter. I do this to her so as to console her somewhat in her distressing situation. I do not know how to talk to you about the love of this girl for I cannot find adequate phrases for it. According to what Zamora told me, he was of the opinion that you would graduate in medicine at Paris. Will it be a long time yet before I shall read in some newspaper that you have produced some work? Are you not engaged in journalism? It is greatly feared that cholera may visit that land. I will not end this letter without telling you that it will be a long time yet before you will receive a letter containing this or a similar statement: “Dear namesake, at last I am going to put the halter on the neck.” Your very affectionate friend who sends you an embrace and until the next. Chengoy _______________ [01] Central Administration of Revenue and Property. [02] General Administration. [03] Pilar here is a proper name; but literally it means pillar. [04] Quiotan, near the house of the Pantojas.
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RIZAL'S LIFE |
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